Syringe assembly



Jan. l2, 1954 F. E. BROWN 2,665,687

SYRINGE ASSEMBLY Filed Aug. 2. 1950 aan INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Jan.12, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,665,687 `srnmdc ASSEMBLY Frank E.Brown, Burbank, Calif., assignor to Frederick M. Turnbull, Los Angeles,Calif.

Application August 2, 1950, serial No. 177,239

16 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a structurally and functionally improvedsyringe assembly and especially the units of an assembly for use inconnection with hypodermic injections.

It is an object of the invention to provide a desirable structurepreferably in the form of an ampule or cartridge involving a pluralityof compartments. Within one of these a medicament may be disposed andwhich medicament may be in the form ci a powder. Within the other adiluent is disposed. Immediately prior to the time that an injection isto be given these substances may be mixed to provide a solution; suchmixture being achieved Without the necessity of any skillfulmanipulation or in fact conscious eiort on the part of the physician orother user. Therefore, a proper and fresh solution may be injected.

A further object is that of furnishing a unit of this type which may beemployed in connection with a standard type of syringe barrel andWithout modification of the latter. Accordingly, the physician will notbe confronted with unfamiliar apparatus at the time he wishes to makethe injection. Rather by proceeding according to a completely simpletechnique he will be able to eiiiciently provide the desired solutionand inject the same. A

An additional object is that of furnishing a device of this characterwhich will in-clude relatively few parts each individually simple indesign; such parts being capable of ready production and assemblage andwhen so assembled maintaining the contained ingredients in a completelysterile condition, in a manner such that they will remain stable forindefinite periods of time.

With these and other objects in mind reference is had to the attachedsheet of drawings illustrating one practical embodiment of the inventionand in which:

Fig. l is a sectional side View of one form of ampule or cartridgeconstructed in accordance with the present teachings;

Fig. 2 showed the cartridge in its initial operative position within asyringe barrel;

Fig, 3 illustrates the parts in the positions which they assume justprior to the .injection operation;

Fig. i shows the iinal position of those parts;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the outer end of thesyringe assembly with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a traverse sectional View taken along the linet--5 and in thedirection of the arrows as indicated Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of the end portion of the metering rod oractuating member.

In these views the numeral I 0 indicates the barrel. of a syringe formedof glass or other proper material. This barrel in accordance withconventional. construction may have its tubular rear end open anddefined by a iiange portion I I.

' glass.

Its front end conveniently presents a transversely extending Wall I2from which a tip or nose piece I3 projects outwardly. The latter Servesto mount in one of a number of accepted manner-s the hub I4 of ahypodermic needle I5.` The nose piece I3 is provided with a bore I6establishing communication between the interior of barrel In and thebore of cannula I3.

The ampule or cartridge has been shown in Fig. 1. It embraces a body I1of conveniently tubular conguration and preferably formed of One end ofthis member is closed by a piston type stopper I8 which may be providedwith an outwardly extending integral collar portion I9. The opposite endof body Il is closed by a headed stopper 20, the edge of which mayproject beyond the side face of body Il. Between Stoppers I8 and 2|] aplug 2I is disposed. Both Stoppers and the plug are formed of rubber orother suitable material. Also as shown all three of these elements areprovided with transversely extending centrally disposed bores.

With the Stoppers and plug properly spaced as shown in Fig. 1, it isapparent that compartments are embraced Within the body of the a'mpuleor cartridge. Within the forward compartment medicament 23 may bedisposed. That medicament is conveniently in the form of powder althoughpellets, grains, etc. might be employed and in certain instances thiscompartment could receive a liquid to be mixed with a diluent or otherliquid initially in the rear compartment. However, as shown the lattercompartment is llcd with diluent 22. Extending through the bores of theStoppers and plug is a closure element preferably in the form of a glassrod 24 common to both Stoppers and the plug.

This rod has `aA body diameter ysuch that it completely fills and sealsthe apertures of the Stoppers and plug. It is formed with a centrallyreduced portion `2li and av reduced end portion 26 the latterterminating in a preferably extended tip 2T having an outer rounded edgeportion. With the parts disposed in their initial positions, the reducedcentral portion of the rod 24 lies adjacent the plug 2I and within thecompartment containing medicament 23. The reduced end portion 2B extendsbeyond stopper 20. The latter portion and its tip may be enclosed by aprotective cap 28 formed of any suitable material.

When the device is to be used cap 28 is removed and discarded. That endof the `ampule or cartridgewhich carries stopper 20 isintroduced intobarrel I0. Conveniently at this time hub I4 is mounted on tip I3. Theampule is then telescoped into the barrel. If an Iaspirating action isdesired it may be achieved by retracting the ampule or cartridge to aslight extent'from the barrel. Under these circumstances, the edgeportion of stopper 20 will function as a piston in engagement with theinner face of the barrel to achieve the desired results. Continuedprojection of the ampule into the barrel will .result in the rounded tipportion 21 of rod 24 engaging the surfaces of the end wall l2 of thatbarrel at pointsA adjacent the bore IG. However, due to theconfiguration of portion 21, it will not obstruct that bore or passagein a manner such that solution is prevented from flowing through it.

An actuating plunger of plastic or other suitable material is nowapplied to exert pressure upon the assembly. As shown this plunger mayinclude a tubular body 29 terminating in an outer thumb contacting`portion 3D. The diameter of tube 2S' may be such that it willfrictionally engage with and telescope over collar portion I9 of stopperl. In any event with the parts Y assembled as described an inward thrustagainst the thumb portion 30 will lcause the cartridge V.body l1 to moveto a position where the head of stopper 29 lies in contact with end walll2. Under these circumstances rod 24 will have been automaticallyretracted'with respect to body I7.

This, of course, will occur because of the continuing engagement of theouter tip ,27 of reduced portion 26 with the inner surface of the endWall of the barrel. Therefore, with such relative movement occurring onthe part of the rod with respect to the ainpule it is apparent that theparts will occupy positions such as has been shown in Fig. 2. In thatView the aperture of stopper I8 is still closed by the body of rod 24.However, the aperture of central plug 2l is now unobstructed to anextent such that diluent 22 may iiow through the aperture into thecompartment containing the medicament. Iny other words, the reducedportion 25 has a length greater than the width of plug 2| and as it isshifted into line with the latter provides a bypass for such ow. Underthese circumstances it will be appreciated that in accordance withpreferred technique the entire assembly will be held substantiallyupright so that there will be no danger of a flow of diluent occurringthrough the bore of stopper 2B and so into the bore IS; it being notedthat the reduced portion 2S now disposed in the aperture or bore ofstopper 20 will provide a by-pass serving as a vent for air from themedicament compartment.

The projection of the piston may be continued until the parts occupy`the position shown in Fig. 3. It will be apparent in vthat figure thatstopper I 8 has moved to a position in contact with plug 2|. Under thesecircumstancesV all diluent will have been forced through the bypass intothe medicament compartment. Therefore, the physician will be -able toshake the assembly to provide a proper solution. The needle may now becaused to pierce the epidermis and continuing projection on the part ofpiston 30 will cause stopper E8 and plug 2| to move as a unit along rodV24 and towards stopper 20. Therefore, the solution will be expelled fromthe medicament containing compartment and projecting in the usual mannerthrough the bore of thebarrel tip or nose the bore ofthe cannula.

Continued projection will cause the vparts to assume the nal postionshown in Fig. 4 in which stances the frictional contact between, for eX-ample, collar i8 and the adjacent tubular surfaces 29 will assure thatthe entire ampule or cartridge assembly will withdraw with the piston.With removal of the spent cartridge the entire operation may berepeated. If necessary the parts may, of course, be sterilized prior t0Y introducing a fresh ampule assembly into the barrel.

Thus among others several objects of the invention as specificallyaforenoted are achieved. Obviously numerous changes in construction andrearrangement of the parts might be resorted to without department fromthe spirit of the invention as dened by the claims.-

I claim:

1. In a syringe assembly a tubular member, a pair of stoppers mountedthereby and spaced from .each other, said stoppers being formed withopenings, a rod extending through said openings to obstruct a ow of uidthrough the same, said rod being formed with a pair of spaced portionseach providing a by-pass 'disposable adjacent said stoppers and 'saidrod being shiftable with respect to said stoppers to dispose saidportions in the zones of the latter whereby fluid may bypass saidstoppers.

2. In a syringe assembly a tubular member, a pair of stoppers mountedthereby and spaced from each other, said stoppers being formed withopenings, a rod extending through said openings to obstruct a flow offluid through the same, said rod being formed with a pair of spacedportions each providing a by-Dass disposable adjacent said stoppers,said rod being shiftable with respect to said stoppers to dispose saidportions in the zones of the latter whereby huid may by-pass saidstoppers and an extended and reduced end portion forming a part of saidrod and serving to automatically manipulate the latter by engagementwith the end Wall of a syringe.

3. In a syringe assembly a tubular member, a pair of stoppers mountedthereby and spaced from each other, said stoppers being formed withopenings, a rod extending through said openings to obstruct a flow offluid through the same, said rod being formed with a pair of spacedportions each providing a by-pass disposed adjacent said stoppers, saidrod being shiftable with respect to said member and stoppers to disposesaid portions inthe zones of the latter whereby uid may pass .throughsaid stopper openings and a manipulating end forming a part of said rodand beyond one of the stoppers.

4. In a syringe assembly a tubular member, stoppers disposed adjacentthe opposite ends of said member, said stoppers being formed withopenings, a rod extending through said openings and formed with by-passportions disposable adjacent said stoppers and an extended end formingaipart oi said rod at a point beyond one of said portions. Y

5. In ay syringe assembly a tubular member, stoppers disposed adjacentthe opposite ends oi said member and each formed with an opening, afurther stopper formed With an opening and disposed at a pointintermediate said first named stoppers, a shiftable rod extendingthrough the openings of all of said stoppersv and formed with a by-passhaving its opposite ends extendable beyond the opposite faces of saidfurther stopper an end portion of said rod extending beyond saidVmember.

5. In a syringe assembly a tubular member, stoppers disposed adjacentthe opposite ends of said member and each formed with openings, a

further stopper formed with an opening and disposed at a pointintermediate said first named Stoppers, a rod extending through theopenings of all of said Stoppers and said rod being formed with by-passportions arrangeable adjacent certain of said Stoppers and beingshiftable with respect to the latter to dispose said portions within thezones of their adjacent Stoppers.

7. In a syringe assembly a tubular member, stoppers disposed adjacentthe ends of said member, a further stopper disposed intermediate saidrst named Stoppers, all said Stoppers being formed with openings, a roddisposed to extend through such openings to obstruct a flow of iiuidpast the same, said rod being formed with bypass portions arrangeableadjacent certain of said Stoppers and a tubular piston member engageablewith one of said Stoppers and to receive in its bore a portion of saidrod.

8. In a syringe assembly a tubular member, Stoppers disposed adjacentthe ends of said member, a further stopper disposed intermediate saidrst named Stoppers, all said stoppers being formed with openings, a roddisposed to extend through such openings to obstruct a flow of fluidpast the same, said rod being formed with bypass portions arrangeableadjacent certain of said Stoppers, a tubular piston member engageablewith one of said Stoppers and to receive in its bore a portion of saidrod and a collar forming a part of a stopper to be engaged by saidpiston member, said collar frictionally contacting the bore of saidlatter member.

9, In a syringe assembly in combination a tubular member, a stopperdisposed within the bore of said member and intermediate the ends of thesame to divide said member into compartments to each side of saidstopper, a rod extending through the stopper opening to normally preventcommunication between said compartments, said rod being formed with apart to one side of said stopper andwhich part has a cross-sectionalconguration different from that of said opening and said rod beingaxially shiftable with respect to said stopper to dispose said part toextend through said stopper'and beyond the opposite faces of the same toestablish communication between said compartments.

10. A syringe assembly including in combination a tubular syringe bodyopen at one of its ends and formed with an apertured wall at itsopposite end, an ampule, partition means within said ampule to dividethe interior thereof into two compartments, valve means carried by saidampule and shiftable with respect to said partition means to affordaccess between said compartments and an actuating portion forming a partof said valve means and extending beyond said ampule to be brought intocontact with the end wall of said syringe as said ampule is shifted intothe latter.

11. A syringe assembly including in combination an ampule, partitionmeans within said ampule to divide the interior thereof into twocompartments, valve means carried vby said ampule and shiftable withrespect to said partition to establish communication between saidcompartments and means associated with said valve means to operate thelatter as said ampule is disposed within a syringe barrel.

12. A syringe assembly including in combination an ampule,partitionmeans within said ampule at points adjacent one end andintermediate the ends of said ampule to divide the interior of thelatter into two compartments,

valve means carried by said ampule and shiftable with respect to saidpartition means to establish communication between said compartments andalso between points exteriorly of said ampule and adjacent the partitionmeans disposed at the end of the ampule and means forming a part of saidvalve means for shifting the latter.

13. In a syringe assembly a substantially rigid rod body formed with asuccessive number of reduced portions, the body of said rod beingdisposable through openings formed in Stoppers to seal said openingsagainst iluid ow, the length of said portions being greater than that ofsaid openings and said rod being axially shiftable to bring each of saidreduced portions into a position at which it extends through a stopperopening and beyond the opposite ends of the latter.

14. In a syringe assembly a substantially rigid rod body formed with asuccessive number of reduced portions, the body of said rod beingdisposable through openings formed in Stoppers to seal said openingsagainst fluid flow, the length of said portions being greater than thatof said openings, said rod being axially shiftable to bring each of saidreduced portions into a position at which it extends through a stopperopening and -beyond the opposite ends of the latter and a reducedsyringe-contacting end portion forming a part of said rod toautomatically shift the latter.

15. In combination a tubular member, a pair of Stoppers closing theopposite ends of said member, a further stopper disposed between andspaced from said end Stoppers to provide a pair of compartments withinsaid member, at least said further stopper and one of said end Stoppersbeing formed with openings, a shiftable rod extending through andclosing said openings and said rod being formed with a by-pass portiondisposed adjacent said further stopper and of a length greater than thelength of the latter, whereby when said rod is shifted to cause theopposite ends of said by-pass to extend beyond the opposite faces ofsaid further stopper communication is established between saidcompartments.

16. In combination a tubular member, a stopper disposed within the boreof said member and intermediate the ends of the latter to providecompartments within said member beyond opposite faces of said stopper, afurther stopper disposed adjacent the end of said mem-ber and spacedfrom said rst main stopper, both of said Stoppers being formed withaxially extending openings, a shiftable rod extending through saidopenings and said rod being formed with a by-pass disposed adjacent tosaid rst named stopper and having a length greater than the height ofthe latter, whereby said rod may be shifted to have the ends of saidby-pass extend beyond opposite faces of said rst named stopper toestablish communication between said compartments.

FRANK E. BROWN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

